Mumbai’s first Public Transport Day initiative in Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC), launched by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), received a muted response on Friday, with many commuters continuing to rely on private vehicles despite appeals to shift to public transport.
The campaign encouraged office-goers and organisations in BKC to leave their cars at home and use buses, metros and other public transit options. However, factors such as intense summer heat, limited bus frequency, inadequate last-mile connectivity and difficulties in securing reasonably priced auto-rickshaws appeared to discourage widespread participation.
While several companies issued internal advisories supporting the initiative and private bus operator Cityflo increased feeder services, commuters reported little improvement in their daily travel experience. Traffic officials observed a marginal reduction in vehicle volumes during the morning hours, estimating traffic to be around 15–20 per cent lower than usual. By evening, however, congestion levels had largely returned to normal.
A visit to BKC during both afternoon and peak evening hours indicated that most office-goers continued to depend on personal cars and SUVs. Many commuters who regularly use public transport described the day as particularly difficult, citing long waits for autos and buses, overcrowding and surge pricing during evening hours.
Several passengers reported waiting between 30 minutes and an hour at bus stops, while others complained of sharply higher shared-auto fares during peak periods. Social media users also criticised the initiative, arguing that improving public transport infrastructure, service frequency and connectivity would be more effective than periodic awareness campaigns.
Some organisations have chosen to monitor the initiative before deciding on long-term participation. Meanwhile, members of the business community expressed mixed views, with some reporting fewer private vehicles entering BKC, while others saw little noticeable difference in traffic conditions.
Despite the challenges, MMRDA officials described the first edition as a positive beginning. Metropolitan Commissioner Sanjay Mukherjee thanked participating corporates and commuters and expressed hope that public transport usage would increase in the coming weeks as the initiative gains momentum.
Source: The Times of India
